Nissan's Weird BladeGlider EV to Debut at Tokyo Motor Show – And Spawn a Production Car

It Might Just Be Crazy Enough To Work.

The Tokyo Motor Show is famous for strange, even otherworldly concepts in personal transportation, from single-person pods to cars that double as a living room on wheels. But Nissan's BladeGlider is not fantasy, despite wording in the press release like "the ultimate in glider-like driving pleasure," and "a shared experience of 'free soaring' for all." More important is the phrase "prototype of an upcoming production vehicle," which means that the narrow front track and triangular 3-passenger seating configuration will eventually be in showrooms. Power comes from two electric motors, one at each wheel, and we expect the range to be close to 200 miles on a single charge.

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As unconventional as the BladeGlider looks, the narrow front track design is grounded in recent motorsports history. The concept draws its heritage from the DeltaWing and ZEOD RC. In fact, all three cars were designed by Nissan's head of motorsport innovation, Ben Bowlby. The key to the design is to shift the weight and tire load as far rearward as possible, something that suits the BladeGlider's EV powertrain perfectly. Without an engine or fuel tank, the batteries can be positioned almost anywhere. Nissan's race car drivers have raved about the way the ZEOD drives, so it's likely that the BladeGlider will provide a unique driving experience. Stay tuned for more updates as the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show approaches.